Environmentally-friendly, customizable consumer goods products

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to components of and methods of manufacture of environmentally-friendly, customizable consumer goods products. The invention disclosed herein relates to assembly features and methods involved with the manufacture of soft-good products as well as products incorporating soft-good materials with rigid structural materials to generate a product minimizing costly processes, chemicals, materials and/or shipping cost and the associated adverse environmental effects involved with production of consumer goods products using attachment features and interfaces. Embodiments of the attachment features and interfaces feature notches and mechanisms to affix discrete components to others through processes of interlocking with notches.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ballooning demand for consumer products pervades the social structure of our society, driving economies and social identities. As our society has grown, the consumer goods industry has evidenced commensurate growth. Products associated with the consumer goods industry generally comprise flexible material, may further comprise rigid materials, and typically use traditional manufacturing processes.

Such traditional manufacturing processes have generally proven effective in the generation of large quantities of consumer goods products. However, a number of major problems remain associated with such proceses. Specifically, inefficiencies associated with traditional manufacturing processes have led to destructive environmental effects. Moreover, a variety of unnecessary costs remain associated with the production, distribution and sale of consumer goods products. As a result, with the growth of the consumer goods market, the costs associated with the ballooning market, including inefficiencies, waste streams and adverse effects on the environment, have commensurately grown.

This increase in such inefficiencies, waste streams and adverse effects on the environment may manifest in many forms. For instance, such ill desired effects may show in the form of excess pre- and post-process work involved with the manufacture of a given product. The manufacture of consumer goods items involving the use of non-rigid and flexible materials, sometimes incorporated with the use of rigid materials, leads to such products as purses, handbags and totes.

Wastes and inefficiencies often accompany processes that combine non-rigid, flexible materials with rigid materials. Such flexible materials may include textiles, leather and other organic and synthetic materials enabling use in soft-good products. It will be appreciated that as used herein, the term “soft-goods” refers to a type of product involving the use of flexible materials. It will be further appreciated that soft-goods materials, such as leather, exhibit a different of surface finish. As such, in association with soft-goods materials, there generally exists a preferred surface that remains generally visible after assembly and a non-preferred surface which remains generally hidden after assembly.

The processes associated with the manufacture of goods typically generate waste-streams associated with material waste, such as scrap materials, as well as material treatments used in traditional manufacturing methods. For instance, the manufacture of a leather handbag may require a number of work-intensive processes that generate material waste. These processes include skiving, cutting, sewing, gluing, painting and dying of material. Each of these processes, along with many others, generates material and/or chemical waste products. Furthermore, adhesive and dying processes often make use of chemicals that resultantly may introduce inorganic, non-biodegradable and potentially hazardous compounds, creating a less environmentally friendly waste stream at the end of the usable life of such a product.

Many inefficiencies associated with a given industry derive from standards or commonly used methods of manufacture adopted prior to growing concern associated with waste or rising labor costs. Today, these factors play a large part in the social and environmental impact associated with a targeted consumer. However, such factors also play a large part in the manufacturing and/or distribution cost of goods sold versus the price a consumer pays, thereby dictating the profit margin available to the selling entity.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “cost” as used herein refers to an individual or sum of investments and expenditures required to prepare a product for salability including, but not limited to purchase of raw goods, manufacture and distribution. It will also be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “price” as used herein refers to the consideration received at the time of sale of a product to a purchasing party such as an end-user or intermediate selling or distribution entity. Furthermore, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “Selling-Entity” as used herein refers to an individual, group or business entity offering goods for sale, potentially including but not limited to those involved with the production and distribution, retail sales and other salable representation of items offered for sale.

Some items in the prior art use traditional processes of manufacture including skiving, gluing, sewing and flattening of the material. It will be appreciated that skiving is a process in which the material in use, such as leather, is thinned in areas to enable the assembly of the edges or seams. Each process of manufacture requires a great deal of time and work. Consumer goods known in the prior art generally utilize these traditional manufacturing processes. Resultantly, such products exhibit high costs associated with production, thereby limiting the selling entity's profit potential and furthermore driving a higher price to the consumer without added value.

Often, items in the prior art use chemically intensive substances in processes associated with their manufacture, particularly when soft goods are involved. The problem with such chemically intensive processes is that glues, dyes and other chemical treatments involve toxic chemicals that are potentially damaging to the environment, users and/or the personnel involved in the process.

Consumer goods generally require significant expenditures associated with the shipping and distribution of such products to the location of sale to an end user. As the cost of shipping lightweight items such as soft goods derives from the overall dimensions, a smaller volumetric profile requires less shipping cost for a given product. Given the variation of sizes associated with consumer goods products, some soft-goods present a very large shipping size as opposed to their actual weight. As a result, such products require an increased cost of shipping as a result of their large dimensions . . . is the cost associated with the distribution or shipping to the end user leads to an increased price to the end user. Some items in the prior art are so large that the shipping cost becomes a barrier to salability by driving price to a level not in accordance with the value. Furthermore, the cost of shipping increases with the size of the goods shipped also as a result of the increased amount of packaging materials such as cardboard, filler material and the like. This cost-related problem affects both the end-user as well as selling entities when the user cannot justify the price, as the selling entity cannot generate profits without the sale of goods. Further, the increased volume of packaging materials needed lead to an increased level of waste and adverse environmental effects.

Yet another problem with items in the prior art is the limitation on form and aesthetic qualities post manufacture. Consumer goods products generally provide a finished product produced by a series of manufacturing processes. The sub-processes related to such form and aesthetic qualities typically require execution prior to the permanent assembly and attachment of all parts integrated into a consumer goods product. Thusly, the modification of such qualities cannot be modified post-manufacture. Resultantly, this problem limits the personalization, modification and add-on of additional features by the end user.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to components of and methods of manufacture of environmentally-friendly, customizable consumer goods products. The invention disclosed herein relates to assembly features and methods involved with the manufacture of soft-good products as well as products incorporating soft-good materials with rigid structural materials to generate a product minimizing costly processes, chemicals, materials and/or shipping cost and the associated adverse environmental effects involved with production of consumer goods products using attachment features and interfaces. Embodiments of the attachment features and interfaces feature notches and mechanisms to affix discrete components to others through processes of interlocking with notches.

Embodiments of the invention comprise at least one section of flexible material with attachment features designed to accept a mating portion of the same or separate section of material of flexible, semi-flexible or rigid properties to create a predetermined form.

The preferred embodiment of the invention 101 in the exemplary form of a handbag comprises seven predesigned sections of leather of thickness of 2.4 mm (0.098 inches). These sections consist of a Main Body A 301, Main Body B 302, Clasp 305, two Straps 306, Shoulder Section A 303 and Shoulder Section B 304. These sections are assembled by inserting a distal end of one section through the appropriate assembly feature. The sections affix and restrain by location specific attachment strategies including Notch, Frictional Retention, Locking Feature and Tapered Features further described herein.

Embodiments, including that of the preferred embodiment, provide assembly features enabling the production and sale of soft-good products while minimizing manufacturing cost, distribution cost and use of costly/toxic chemicals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a product deriving from and featuring inventive elements of the invention associated in the final form of a handbag.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a product deriving from and featuring inventive elements of the invention in the final form of a carrier.

FIG. 3 depicts components associated with an embodiment of the invention in the form of a handbag.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a product deriving from and featuring inventive elements of the invention associated in the final form of a handbag.

FIG. 5A describes the assembly step associated with an embodiment of the invention of placing the Main Body A 301 through apertures 309.

FIG. 5B shows a top view describing the assembly step associated with an embodiment of the invention of pulling Main Body A 301 through apertures 309 in Main Body B.

FIG. 5C shows a bottom view describing the assembly step associated with an embodiment of the invention of pulling Main Body A 301 through apertures 309 in Main Body B.

FIG. 6A depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the folding of Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302 as depicted by the curved dashed arrows.

FIG. 6B depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the folding of Main Body A 301 and one side of Main Body B 302 as depicted by the curved dashed arrows.

FIG. 6C depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the folding of the winged edges of Main Body A 301 toward elements of Main Body B 302 as depicted by the curved dashed arrows.

FIG. 6D depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the folding of a second side of Main Body A 301 toward Main Body B 302 as depicted by the curved dashed arrows.

FIG. 6E depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the folding of the winged edges of Main Body A 301 toward elements of Main Body B 302 as depicted by the curved dashed arrows.

FIG. 6F depicts the assembly associated with an embodiment of the invention after the steps as depicted in FIG. 6A-FIG. 6E have been completed.

FIG. 7A depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the insertion of the tapered feature 314 of the strap 306 into apertures in Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302.

FIG. 7B depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the further insertion of the tapered feature 314 of the strap 306 into apertures in Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302.

FIG. 7C depicts a step of an embodiment of the inventive process described herein, namely, the still further insertion of the tapered feature 314 of the strap 306 into apertures in Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302.

FIG. 7D depicts the final assembly of an embodiment of the invention after the steps as depicted in FIG. 7A-FIG. 7C have been completed.

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of an impartially constructed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9A depicts the strap 306, an aperture 308, a locking feature 313, and a tapered feature 314 in elongated form in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9B depicts the directional path of the tapered feature, shown by the dashed arrow, into the aperture 308 in an assembly step associated with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9C depicts the progression of the assembly step described in FIG. 9B associated with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9D depicts the insertion of the strap through to the locking mechanism 313 in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10A depicts an assembly step associated with the insertion of the clasp section 305 and other features in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10B depicts the path of closure followed by the toggle 312 into the clasp section 305 as depicted by the dashed arrow in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10C depicts a view of the finalized form of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11A depicts a frontal view of an embodiment of the invention comprising a drink carrier.

FIG. 11B depicts a side view of an embodiment of the invention comprising a drink carrier.

FIG. 11C depicts a top view of an embodiment of the invention comprising a drink carrier.

FIG. 12 depicts a first flexible material section 401 and second flexible material section 402 of an embodiment of the invention comprising a drink carrier.

FIG. 13 depicts a first rigid material section 501 and a second rigid material section 502 in an embodiment of the invention comprising a drink carrier.

FIG. 14A depicts an assembly step associated with an embodiment of the invention of inserting a first flexible material section 401 through apertures 405 in a second flexible material section 402 by following the path depicted by the dashed arrow.

FIG. 14B the assembled component of an embodiment of the invention after the step depicted in FIG. 14A has been performed.

FIG. 15 depicts a portion of a first rigid material section 501 in an embodiment of the invention comprising a drink carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventive concept described herein provides a solution to problems associated with the utilization of commonly accepted manufacturing methods in the production of consumer goods. Namely, such problems include but are not limited to the negative environmental and economic impact associated with the final form of consumer products as typically manufactured. Such negative environmental and economic impacts include but are not limited to inefficient assembly processes, the generation of excess waste material, waste streams and inefficient logistical processes associated therewith.

Embodiments of the invention include the steps and apparatuses associated with use of fastening features within flexible and rigid bodies. The inventive concept also includes a method of assembly using said fastening features to produce a final product using flexible materials without the use of permanent and process-intensive treatments and manufacturing processes, which otherwise would increase the cost and environmental impact of a manufactured consumer product. In the preferred embodiment of the invention 101 as shown in FIG. 1 such fastening features are incorporated to enable assembly of a plurality of leather sections. The resultant assembly in the preferred embodiment comprises a soft-goods container with a shoulder strap.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one section of a flexible material exhibits at least one aperture through which a distal end of a flexible material section is inserted for frictional retention or engagement of a locking feature and may be pulled to a desired tension or orientation.

It will be appreciated to one skilled in the art that the term “Section,” as used herein refers to a continuous piece of material comprised of flexible, semi-rigid or rigid material.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “Aperture,” as used herein, refers to an opening created by the natural form or modified form of a section of material such as a thru-hole and includes an opening created by the interface of a plurality of sections as well as the interface between two portions of a singular section of flexible material.

It will be further appreciated by one skilled in the art that “Frictional Retention,” as used herein, refers to the friction created by the interface between a portion of a flexible Section and fastening feature, typically in the form of an Aperture, designed to provide increased friction at the interface of the portion of material inserted within said aperture. A plurality of Apertures in serial or parallel, through which the distal end is inserted provides an increased level of friction. Such Frictional Interfaces typically occur between two portions of one flexible Section, a plurality of flexible Sections, or combination of flexible and non-flexible sections.

Further still, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “Locking Feature,” as used herein, refers to the interface between at least two portions of material, which may comprise of at least two separate areas of the same flexible material, two regions of separate flexible material Sections section or a combination of flexible and materials comprised of rigid and/or semi-rigid materials. Such interface generally comprises of at least one aperture and at least one distal end exhibiting a physical feature designed to constrain the connection. Said Locking Feature typically is presented in a form with at least a Minor Dimension and a Major Dimension. Said Minor Dimension, as referred to herein, is typically less than or equal to the length of the associated Aperture. Whereas, said Major Dimension is typically of equal or greater size than said associated Aperture and provides added resistance and constraint to the Locking Feature. The Locking Feature may take many forms including, but not limited to, step, notch, and Locking Features.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “Tapered Feature”, as used herein, refers to the interface between at least two portions of material, which may comprise of two separate areas of the same flexible material, two regions of separate flexible material Sections section or a combination of flexible and materials comprised of rigid and/or semi-rigid materials. Such interface typically comprises of at least one Aperture and one distal end with a Minor Dimension generally smaller than the length of said Aperture and a Major Dimension. Furthermore, such an assembly feature exhibits a taper between the Minor Dimension and Major Dimension. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the term “Taper,” as used herein, refers to a gradual transition, generally without angular segmentation, between differing dimensions and may comprise a linear or curvilinear form. Said Major Dimension may be less than, equal or greater than the length of an Aperture dependent upon the purpose of such a connection. A Major Dimension greater than the dimension of the associated Aperture provides an increase of retention with an increased engagement dimension of said Tapered Feature. However, in the scenario where a Major Dimension is less than the dimension of the associated Aperture provides ease of assembly. The present inventor has recognized that the Major Dimension and the Minor Dimension may be utilized in a variety of contexts dependent upon the purpose of the apparatus related thereto.

The number of Apertures utilized by an assembly feature may be increased or decreased in varying embodiments to provide the desired amount of Frictional Retention. With increased numerosity of Apertures, a distal end may pass through a plurality of Apertures, typically weaving the distal end through the plurality of Apertures. Increased Frictional Retention allows for increased levels of constraint at attachment points.

In an embodiment of the invention, a consumer goods apparatus comprises a plurality of flexible sections exhibiting assembly features comprising at least one Frictional Retention Feature or at least one Feature Retention construct to constrain the embodiment to a final form. In such an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sections of flexible material are assembled using assembly features comprising of Frictional Retention features. In such an embodiment, the Frictional Retention features utilize a varying number of Apertures in accordance with the holding strength required by each attachment dependent upon the purpose of the consumer goods apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, a Clasp section 305 is constrained by a series of two apertures 310, thereby creating a single aperture. As shown in FIG. 4, a distal end of a Main Body A 301, utilizes the singular Aperture created by the Clasp to constrain the integrated flap end of the Main Body A 301 while allowing easy removal by an end user. Another Frictional Retention feature in the preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates three Apertures to assemble the Strap 306 to the distal ends of the Shoulder Section A 303 and Shoulder Section B 304. The Frictional Retention feature in the preferred embodiment affixes portions of a plurality of Sections of flexible material to each other using four Apertures 308 along the lateral portions of Main Body A 301. Using these four Apertures in conjunction with a Frictional Retention feature, this singular attachment feature brings together the Main Body A 301, Main Body B 302 and the Strap 306 sections.

Certain assembly features require an added level of constraint to maintain coherence of the assembly and/or a particular orientation of the assembly. Some embodiments of the invention comprise at least one Locking Feature and may be used in conjunction with Frictional Features.

In an embodiment of the invention, a Locking Feature is utilized to assemble two portions of material. Said Locking Feature is of the step type restricting the passage of one portion of material through an Aperture. In the preferred embodiment, the Strap 306 Sections incorporate two such Locking Features. At the first distal end, proximate to the Shoulder Section A 303 and Should Section B 304, the Locking Feature 307 utilized is of a step feature type. In an embodiment, the length of the Aperture exhibited by Shoulder Section A 303 and Shoulder Section B 304 is 21 mm and is designed to accept the 19 mm width of the Strap 306. However, the Major Dimension of the Strap 306 at said Step Locking Feature 307 is 25.3 mm and cannot pass through the aperture of Shoulder Section A and Shoulder Section B, thereby constraining it.

In an embodiment of the invention, a Locking Feature is utilized to assemble two portions of rigid and/or flexible material. Said Locking Feature is of the notch type, generally constraining a portion of material within an aperture at a desired location. In the preferred embodiment, the second distal end of the Strap 306, comprises flexible material, exhibits a notch type feature intended to add constraint to the assembly of the Main Body A 301, Main Body B 302 and the Strap 306. The Strap 306 Section provides constraint after passage through Apertures 308 incorporated into Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302. The second distal end of said Strap 306 exhibits a Tapered Feature 314, an Aperture 308 and a notch type Locking Feature 313. Said Tapered Feature exhibits a Minor Dimension of 10 mm and Major Dimension of 15.7 mm in the preferred embodiment. Said notch 313, as demonstrated by the preferred embodiment, exhibits a First Major Dimension, a Second Major Dimension and a Minor Dimension. Said First Major Dimension of 14.9 mm (0.58 inches), is slightly larger than the length of the corresponding Aperture 308, exhibited on the Strap Section 306, of 13.9 mm (0.55 inches) through which the second distal end is passed, and the Second Major Dimension 15.7 mm (0.61 inches) in the preferred embodiment. The Minor Dimension corresponding with said notch type Locking Feature 313 is 13.0 mm (0.51), which is less than the length of said corresponding Aperture 308. As demonstrated by FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C and FIG. 9C, in accordance with the method steps required to assemble the consumer goods apparatus using said notch Locking Feature 313, the second distal end of the Strap is inserted through the corresponding Aperture 308 of the Locking Feature 313. Although the first Major Dimension of the locking feature is larger than the length of the corresponding Aperture, the flexible material allows the assembler to pass the material through. Resultantly, the notch recess 313 comes to rest while through the Aperture and the portion of material is thereby constrained by first and second Major Dimensions of the notch type Locking Feature 313.

The toggle-type Locking Feature may be used in the connection of a plurality of portions, generally a plurality of flexible material portions or at least one flexible material portion and at least one inflexible material portion. Such a Locking Feature utilizes at least one toggle and at least one corresponding Aperture. In the case of assembly of a flexible Section to a rigid Section, the toggle typically comprises of rigid material and is designed with three discrete dimensions; a Major Dimension, a Minor Dimension and an Intermediate Dimension. It will be appreciated that, as used herein, an Intermediate Dimension comprises material having a dimension greater than the Minor Dimension and less than the Major Dimension. Furthermore, design considerations of said toggle, such as a chamfer, enable the corresponding Aperture's Major Dimension to be no larger than the Intermediate Dimension of said toggle while still enabling assembly.

In an embodiment of the invention as demonstrated in FIG. 13, a toggle 504 comprises a rigid material section 501, further comprises a Major Dimension 505, an Intermediate Dimension 507 and a Minor Dimension 506. The associated Aperture 403 exhibits a substantially rectangular shape as exhibited in flexible material section 401 as shown in FIG. 12. Said rectangular shape exhibits a width generally equal to or greater than the thickness of said rigid material comprising said toggle. The length of said 2 rectangular shape is generally equal to or greater than said Intermediate Dimension 507 and is generally less than said Major Dimension 505.

Flexible materials, particularly inelastic flexible materials, comprise such materials as leather and some high-density polyethylenes. In an embodiment of the invention, such inelastic flexible materials, such as material Section 402 depicted in FIG. 12, feature an effective Aperture length matching that of the Intermediate Dimension utilized in such embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the effective length of a substantially rectangular aperture as demonstrated by aperture 407 is increased through the use of an elongating feature 408. An elongating feature such as 408 may comprise of a slit extending from a distal end of an Aperture, thereby the length of said rectangular Aperture 407 need not exceed that of the Minimum Dimension 506 of the associated toggle 504.

Flexible materials, particularly elastic flexible materials, comprise such materials as felt and rubber. Such elastic flexible materials do not require an Aperture length to be at least that of an Intermediate Dimension of an associated toggle, nor do they require the use of elongating features. The effective length of an associated Aperture may be increased by stretching the material to effectively increase said Aperture to a length at least equal to that of the Intermediate Dimension of the associated toggle without permanent or plastic deformation.

It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that a material exhibiting elastic properties is able to stretch or deform under a load and substantially return to its original form when said tensile load no longer acts upon it.

It will be further appreciated by one skilled in the art that a material exhibiting inelastic properties may stretch or deform under a load, however such stretching or deformation is of the plastic sort and the material will damage or will not substantially return to its original form when the load no longer acts upon it.

In an embodiment of the invention as depicted by FIG. 2, a plurality of toggle features are utilized to assemble a plurality of sections of flexible inelastic material and rigid sections. As shown in FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, flexible inelastic sections 501, 502 of thickness 2.4 mm (0.094 inches) and a plurality of interlocked rigid sections 401 and 402 of material of thickness 6 mm are assembled to comprise a predetermined form. Said plurality of sections of rigid material are preassembled using what is known to those skilled in the art as halved joints 503. Said halved joint enable the assembly of rigid sections 502 to 501 in an orthogonal orientation. Said flexible material exhibits a plurality of portions to assemble to each Toggle Feature 504. In this embodiment, a portion of rigid material comprises a toggle 504 that exhibits a Major Dimension 505 of 41.6 mm (1.64 inches), an Intermediate Dimension 507 of 39.2 mm (1.54 inches) and a Minor Dimension 506 of 31.7 mm (1.25 inches) of width 7.2 mm (0.28 inches). The width of said toggle 504 in this particular embodiment enables the assembly of a plurality of portions of flexible 401 and 402 to said toggle 504 using a plurality of associated apertures 403 and 407. Said associated Apertures may differ in dimension, however in this specific embodiment are of identical dimension. The associated Apertures 407 comprise a substantially rectangular shape with an elongating feature 408 at one end of said Aperture. The width of said rectangular shape matches the thickness of said rigid material, 6 mm. The length of said rectangular shape of said Aperture is 34.8 mm (1.37 inches). A distal end of each rectangular Aperture 407 exhibits an elongating feature 408 comprised of a slit terminating in a cut-out of substantially radial shape. Said elongating feature comprises a slit of length 5.8 mm (0.23 inches) and 0.75 mm width (0.03 inches), which terminates at a substantially radial shape of radius 1.5 mm concentric to the termination of said slit, exhibiting a 6.5 mm (0.26 inches) total length. Thusly, the effective assembly Major Dimension of said aperture is 41.3 mm (1.62 inches) in the embodiment of the invention described in this paragraph.

Interior angles of cuts, particularly those of 90 degrees or less, are prone to unwanted tearing when manipulated or have load applied. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, in the use of flexible materials, a stress-relief feature as shown in FIG. 3 in the form of a radial termination 315 provides decreasing in stress concentrations and prevents unwanted tearing of material particularly at interior angles of a cut. Furthermore, Apertures may be used in medial areas of a section of material to decrease stiffness inherent in the material used. As shown in FIG. 11, said stress-relief Apertures 404 provide stress relief to enable ease of bending and furthermore may be utilized to guide assembly and intended points of folding.

It will further be appreciated to one skilled in the art the term “manipulation” of materials as referred to herein refers to physical actions including, but not limited to, bending, folding, stretching and twisting of said material to enable the assembly of portions of material without permanent or plastic deformation of said materials.

In an embodiment, a Locking Feature and Frictional Retention feature provide added constraint in the assembly of a plurality of portions of flexible material. In such an embodiment, the toggle of said portion exhibits a Major Dimension and a Minor Dimension. The corresponding aperture exhibits a length and a width. The width of said corresponding aperture is less than the material thickness to provide increased Friction Retention. Furthermore, the length of said corresponding Aperture is larger than the Minor Dimension of said toggle. The Major Dimension of said toggle is larger than the length of said corresponding Aperture. In this embodiment the Major Dimension and Minor Dimension share a perpendicular transverse axis passing through their mid-points. Due to properties inherent to the flexible material used in the construction of said toggle, the one distal end of said toggle can be passed through said corresponding aperture and subsequently manipulating the opposite distal end of said toggle by folding and/or bending actions to pass the remaining portion of said toggle through said corresponding Aperture, thusly constraining the toggle to said corresponding Aperture. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible material thickness of 2.4 mm (0.94 inches) thickness and said toggle 312 demonstrates a Major Dimension of 20.3 mm (0.8 inches) and a Minor Dimension of 10.0 mm (0.39 inches). Furthermore, said corresponding Apertures 310 exhibit a width of 1.8 mm (0.07 inches) and a length of 11.8 mm (0.46 inches). Due to the flexible nature of the material used, leather in the case of the preferred embodiment 101, the distal ends of said toggle 312 can be manipulated to pass through said corresponding Aperture 310 for a constrained connection.

In an embodiment of the invention, a Tapered Feature is used in conjunction with a Frictional Retention assembly feature to connect two sections of flexible material. Said first section comprises a Frictional Retention feature further comprising two Apertures. Although not required in all embodiments, said Apertures exhibit equal dimensionality. Said second section of flexible material comprises of a Frictional Retention feature corresponding with said Apertures, which exhibits at least one Minor Dimension less than the length of said Apertures and at least one Major Dimension greater than the length of said Apertures. Between said Minor Dimension and said Major Dimension, said portions of said section of flexible material exhibits a Tapered Feature. Said second section of flexible material, in use, is passed through both Apertures of the said first section of flexible material generally with a weaving configuration. It will be appreciated that the term “weaving,” as used herein, refers to the path a material takes through a series of apertures, generally in an alternating sequence, passing through to the opposite side of the material being woven through. Some manipulation may be required to pass one of the distal ends of said second section of flexible material through said apertures to engage the Tapered Feature with said Frictional Retention feature. In the preferred embodiment, said Tapered Feature is exhibited at a medial portion creating a waist in the width of Main Body A 301 and said apertures 309 are of an elongated form exhibited on a medial portion of Main Body B 302. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that as used herein, the term “waist” refers to Minor Dimension created the narrowing of surrounding material from both sides. Both Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302 are comprised of a substantially consistent thickness of leather of at least 2.4 mm. Said Apertures 309 exhibit a length of 153.5 mm (6.04 inches) and a width of 2 mm (0.08 inches) and are substantially parallel offset 21.4 mm (0.84 inches) from each other. Main Body A 301 exhibits two Minor Dimensions and two Major Dimensions comprising said waist. Said Minor Dimensions are equal in size and substantially parallel approximately 21.4 mm (0.84 inches) apart to match the spacing between said Apertures 309. Furthermore, said Major Dimensions are equal in size. As shown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C, during assembly, a distal end of Main Body A 301 is manipulated to pass through said Apertures 309 in a weaving configuration and pulled to center said waist concurrent with said Apertures 309 incorporating said Frictional Retention feature. Once assembled in such a configuration, Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302 are constrained to such configuration through the use of said Frictional Retention feature as well as said Tapered Feature comprising the waist.

In an embodiment of the invention, at least one Aperture is used in conjunction with a combination of a Tapered Feature and a Locking Feature to provide variable levels of retention. This retention occurs between a plurality of portions of material and typically involves at least one portion of flexible material. In this embodiment, a portion of flexible material comprised of a distal end of a section of flexible material exhibits a Tapered Feature and further comprises a step-type Locking Feature. A separate portion of material exhibits a corresponding Aperture sized accordingly. Said step-type Locking feature generally exhibits a Major Dimension approximately equal to length of said Aperture and said Tapered Feature exhibits a Major Dimension less than the length of said Aperture.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the combination of a Tapered Feature and a Locking Feature exhibited by a distal end of Main Body A is designed for insertion and retention within an Aperture formed by the attachment of the Clasp section to the Main Body A section. In the preferred embodiment said Clasp section assembles to Main Body A creating an aperture through with said distal end is designed to pass through. Said aperture in said preferred embodiment exhibits a length of 18.2 mm (0.72 inches). Said distal end of Main Body A exhibits a Major Dimension of 17.8 mm (0.7 inches) and a Minor Dimension of 14.2 mm (0.56 inches) with a taper between. Furthermore, said distal end exhibits a taper extending from said Major Dimension to the terminus of said distal end comprised of a point. Said taper and step-type Locking Feature allows the user to insert said distal end into said Aperture, providing enhanced retention while still allowing for disassembly without the need for material manipulation.

The preferred embodiment the invention comprises seven predesigned sections of leather of thickness of 2.4 mm (0.098 inches) assembled to comprise a predetermined form, though it will be appreciated that other embodiments of the invention can comprise a varying number of sections of leather of various thicknesses. Such sections consist of a Main Body A 301, Main Body B 302, Clasp 305, two Strap sections 306, Shoulder Section A 303 and Shoulder Section B 304. Such Sections are assembled by inserting a distal end of one Section through the appropriate assembly feature. Such Sections are restrained by location specific attachment strategies including Notch, Frictional Retention, Locking Feature and Tapered Features.

A variety of steps would be taken by an assembler of a consumer goods apparatus comprising an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. In accord with the inventive concept, the assembler would orient the leather sections of Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302 with the smooth side down and insert a distal end of Main Body A 301 downward though the first elongated Aperture 309 in Main Body B and weave back up though the second elongated Aperture 309 until the assembly feature utilizing Frictional Retention and a Locking Feature is configured as intended as shown in FIG. 5C. The Clasp section 305 would then be assembled to the corresponding clasp apertures on Main Body A 301 by manipulating the toggles of the Clasp Section 305 to pass though said corresponding clasp Apertures 310. The assembler would then assemble Shoulder Section A 303, Shoulder Section B 304 and the two Strap sections 306. The assembly of which is preferably performed passing Shoulder Section B 304 through the medial apertures 308 of Shoulder Section A 303. Following the Assembly of the Shoulder Section A 303 and Shoulder Section B 304, the Apertures 308 incorporated into the Shoulder Section B 304 align with the intermediate Apertures 308 incorporated into the Shoulder Section A 303. Then the assembler may assemble the Strap 306 sections to the distal ends of the Shoulder Section assembly, comprised of Shoulder Section A 303 and Shoulder Section B 304, by inserting the tapered distal end of the Strap 306 through both Apertures 308 of the assembly, beginning from the non-preferred surface of the leather and weaving through the second Aperture 308 at the distal end of Shoulder Section A 303. By pulling on the second distal end of the Strap 306, the assembler pulls the entire or close to the entire length of the Strap 306 through the Apertures engaging the step-type Locking Features 307 at the first distal end of the strap 306. The assembler then passes the second distal end of said Strap 306 section through associated Apertures 308 on the Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302 assemblies. These Apertures are folded and aligned per FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, FIG. 6D, FIG. 6E and FIG. 6F prior to passing the strap 306 through the series of aligned apertures 308 as shown in FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D. Once the assembler passes said second distal end of said Strap 306 through the final Aperture, leaving the second distal end on the interior side of the Main Body A/Main Body B assembly, the assembler passes second distal end of said Strap 306 section through the associated Aperture 308 proximate to said second distal end of said Strap 306 section engaging the notch-type Locking Feature 313. The assembler then repeats the steps described above related to the Strap 306 assembly steps involving Shoulder Section A 303, Shoulder Section B 304, Main Body A 301 and Main Body B 302. Upon final assembly the Tapered Feature with Locking Feature at the distal end of Main Body A can be inserted into the Aperture created by the Clasp 305 section adjoined to Main Body A 301 to secure the distal end of Main Body A 301 comprising of a Tapered Feature 312 and a step type Locking Feature 311 as a cover-flap.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. The descriptive labels associated with the numerical references in the figures are intended to merely illustrate embodiments of the invention, and are in no way intended to limit the invention to the scope of the descriptive labels.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The terms “coupled” and “linked” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. Also, the sequence of steps in a flow diagram or elements in the claims, even when preceded by a letter does not imply or require that sequence. 

I claim:
 1. The invention as described herein. 